Black Hat Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje
Red Hat Karmapa, Künzig Shamar Rinpoche
Lama Jigme Rinpoche
Khenpo Chodrag Rinpoche
Resident Teachers:
HowardYang
Cybele Yang
Karma Kagyu Sangha operates under the spiritual guidance of the following two highest teachers of the Karma Kagyu tradition:
- The 17th Black Hat Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje,
- and the 14th Red Hat Karmapa, Shamarpa Mipham Chokyi Lodro
Trinley Thaye Dordje, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa
The
Gyalwa Karmapa is an enlightened being, the holder of the teachings of the
transmission of the Kagyu lineage.
The teachings of this lineage originate
from the Buddha and have been preserved in a pure and authentic form up to the
present day through transmission from master to disciple.
The
Gyalwa Karmapa is the recipient of these teachings and the entire blessing
that they confer.
The teachings cannot be confined merely to texts. They are living and
experienced by great adepts of whom Gyalwa Karmapa is an example.
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Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche
Mipham
Chokyi Lodro was
born in Derge, Tibet. At the age of four he was recognized by the 16th
Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpei Dorje as the 14th Shamarpa reincarnation. Upon
the Karmapa´s request the Tibetan Government withdrew its onehundred
and fiftynine year old ban of the Shamarpas.
Kunzig
Shamar Rinpoche remained with the 16th Karmapa until his death in 1981. He
received the entire cycle of Kagyu teachings from H. H. the 16th Karmapa.
Since the 16th Karmapa's death in 1981, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche has devoted
his efforts to the many projects initiated by the late 16th Karmapa. He co-founded and brought into being
the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, New Delhi, India. The
Institute currently offers courses in Buddhist studies for both monastic
and lay students.
Shamar Rinpoche frequently travels abroad where he teaches at the many
Kagyu centers world-wide. He also plans to establish an institute for
higher Buddhist studies and a retreat center in Nepal.
Shamarpa Rinpoche's Official Webpage
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Jigme Rinpoche was born in Kham, Eastern Tibet, in 1949. in
1959, together with the Karmapa and many other high lamas and tulkus of all
ages, he moved on to Rumtek in Sikkim. In Rumtek, H.H. the Karmapa founded a
monastery in order to preserve the teachings, and it was there that, together
with all the regents and important tulkus gathered there by the Karmapa, that
Jigme Rinpoche received all the transmissions directly from him.
In 1974, during his first visit to Europe, the Karmapa designated Dhagpo
Kagyu Ling in Dordogne, France, to be the central seat of his activity, headed
by Jigme Rinpoche as his representative. He also asked Gendun Rinpoche and Pawo
Rinpoche to go there and help in bringing the 5 wishes to fruition.
When H. H. the 16th Karmapa appointed Jigme Rinpoche as his European
representative, he said:
"
In the person of Jigmela, I leave you my heart. ", and it is in this spirit that Jigme Rinpoche today continues his
activity in Europe, travelling extensively, visiting and teaching in the centres
and inspiring all those who come into contact with him.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche Official web site
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Considered
one of the most learned and respected scholars of the Kagyu lineage today,
Khenpo Chodrag Tenpel Rinpoche was educated in the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim,
India, under the guidance of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. He is the
main Khenpo of the Karma Kagyü Tradition. He has been in charge of the
teachings in Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist epistemology and meditation. He has
served as Educational Director of the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI)
located in New Delhi, India. KIBI was founded by the 14th Shamarpa in
fulfillment of the 16th Karmapa's wish to establish an institute of higher
learning to foster wisdom and compassion through the proper study and
translation of the great treatises of Buddhism. Six months out of each year,
Khenpo Chodrag Rinpoche travels and teaches extensively throughout Southeast
Asia, Europe and the US.